It's crunch time as Newry's finest 8 ball pool players battle it out for the 2017/18 Destination Newry sponsored Newry Individuals.Pat Brady and Kieran McMahon are safely through and last year's finalists are on course for another epic finale.No doubt bookies favourite Paddy Clarke will have a big say in where the title goes. Ballymena native Clarke is a big talker and no doubt one of the most talented players in Newry but he has not always performed when it's come down to the business end of proceedings. The longer frame set - up in the semis and final will suit him better should he get there.Paddy Tavey is another that has flattered to deceive when it's come to the business end of the individuals. He is looking more purposeful around the table and he has his eye on the big prize.Harvey Lavelle will need to decide whether to stick to the tactical side of the game that serves him so well against the more attacking players. It wasn't enough to beat Kieran McMahon in the final a few years ago and it is unlikely to leave Pat Brady having sleepless nights either.

TABLE 1Shane McAllister (Hustlers) v Cathal McCoy (Hustlers)Table 1 kicks off with a quality Hustlers derby. Shane McAllister won 13 of the 20 league games he's played. He won his last 3 in a row coming off a defeat then a night on the subs bench. McAllister is notoriously hard to beat. Just when you think you have the upperhand he ties you up and you are playing for the 20min bell to put you out of your misery.Cathal McCoy will know only too well what to expect. He will have prepared himself for 3 re-spotted blacks and anything less will be a bonus. McCoy only picked up 9 wins from his 21 league games but he is a smart player and has a more expansive game than his opponent. He is loves a pressure game and can take out stunning finishes. He is prone to an off night where he can't pot a ball. Cathal McCoy can beat anyone when on form but which Cathal McCoy will turn up on the night?

Paddy Tavey (CWC A) v Darren Devlin (Bosco)Paddy Tavey had to beat former multiple individuals winner Cathal Phelan last time out and his devestaing record in the Premier Division this season shows he in the elite bracket at long last.Paddy Tavey has moved to the next level. His newfound confidence sees him taking out stunning finish after finish and his safety game is right up there with the best. Tavey has 9 wins from last 10 games including 2 break finishes. 17 wins from 21 league games is an amazing return from the outstanding Paddy Tavey.Darren Devlin's biggest scalp was beating Niall McVerry in the very 1st round. You won't need a Sky Sports pundit to analyse Darren Devlin. The Bosco talisman will attack everything going. Devlin lives by the sword and dies by the sword. He has enjoyed a stunning season in Division 1 and will go into this game knowing he can cause an upset.

TABLE 2Paddy Clarke (CWC A) v Noel Donaldson (Whitecross)Paddy Clarke has a snooker background but it is his exploits on the pool table that makes him well known across the island of Ireland and the best has yet to come for him as far as National competition's are concerned. Clarke is a crazy potting machine and this is the way he approaches every game. This deadly finisher only needs a sniff and he's away. Clarke has been far from unbeatable though. 3 defeats in his last 5 league games tells it's own story. 8 wins and 4 defeats is not the stats of a future individuals champion.Noel Donaldson started the season dissapointingly for Whitecross and dissapeared after the 1st round of fixtures to concentrate on his South Armagh pool. Donaldson is another exciting, very attacking and talented player. Getting caught in a tactical battle won't interest him and he will need to hope he has brought his 'A' game if he is to cause Clarke any real concern.

Tommy Mooney (Trainor's Bar Camlough) v Kieran McMahon (CWC A)Tommy Mooney is sitting just outside the fancied players for this one and one of the reasons for that is, the tough draw he got. Mooney won 11 of his first 12 league games. He hit a rocky patch but he's won his last 4 league games going into the finals night of the individuals. Tommy Mooney won his 1st 2 league meetings against CWC A but came up short in the last one. Being a former pupil in the Corrinshego school of Pool means Mooney has a decent tactical game but against McMahon he might need to fight fire with fire.Kieran 'The Machine' McMahon is one of the in form players at the moment. All the superlatives must surely have been used in discriptions of McMahon over the years. McMahon has lost just 1 frame in his last 14 league games including winning all 7 of the 3rd round of fixtures. He also has a 100% winning record against Trainor's players' so far this season. McMahon with his snooker background is a lethal potter. His attacking style is easy on the eye but if he misses a shot or positional play lets him down he can leave himself in ttouble. His 4 losses this season does give Tommy Mooney something to be optimistic about.

Bernie Magee (CWC A) v Harvey Lavelle (CWC A)Bernie Magee is one of those players nobody wants to see on their side of the draw. He is the Rolls Royce of tactical pool. Bernie Magee is an attacking players' absolute nightmare. Even worse for Magee's opponent's is that he's back taking out big finishes. A good run in the Pairs will have him in confident mood. Magee won't lack bottle and you can be sure he's not just there to make up the numbers. Magee's best record was a run of 7 wins in a row mid-season finishing with a superb 14 league wins from 21 league games. He's won 5 of his last 6 so he's in fine form.Harvey Lavelle is another player noted for his tactics. Whether he wants to go toe to toe with Bernie Magee is an intriguing question we look forward to see the answer to. Lavelle no doubt will rather an open table. He is a joy to watch in and around the balls and exciting finishes can be the norm for him. Harvey Lavelle's best winning run was 7 and a break finish against Orchard Bar being the highlight. 16 wins from the 20 league games he played is a fantastic record. He's won 11 of his last 12 games and Lavelle is rightly among the favourites.

TABLE 3Robbie Loughran (Nifty Fifty) v Stevie Teggart (CWC A)Robbie Loughran is this year's surprise package. The Division 2 player has battled hard to take his place in the last 16. This is his 1st big test but if he can hold his nerve and play his natural game he can make this a tough match for Stevie Teggart. The Nifty Fifty star has had an excellent season in the lowest tier of the Newry Pool league. He has a very good win rate and it makes it stand out even more because his team has had very little to play for for most of the season.Stevie Teggart was on course for the clean sweep of all 4 top trophies, the Pairs and the Individuals. That was of course until he and Paddy Tavey came up short in the Pairs final. Stevie from Killeavy hasn't enjoyed the best season he could ever have dreamed of in truth. 7 league wins with 5 defeats isn't inspiring stuff in a very stop start season for Teggart. 2 defeats from has last 3 league games is certainly food for thought for opponent Robbie Loughran. Teggart, when on form is a match for any one. Brilliant single ball potter and a terrific tactical player. Similar to Harvey Lavelle he can be too cautious at times.

TABLE 4Pat Brady (CWC A) v Conor McQuaid (St. Monnina)Pat Brady faces an old pal when he faces Conor McQuaid on the green baize on Thursday night. The two had a very fruitful partnership in the South Armagh league where trophies came thick and fast. Trophies seem to follow Brady. Whether it is Dundalk, South Armagh or Newry 'Big Pat' surrounds himself with winners. Just when you mention winners - 20 wins from 21 league games is Roy of the Rovers stuff. Pat Brady is simply a phenomenon. He is without doubt the best single frame player Newry Pool league has ever seen. The only frame he lost was a break finish from Mike Nugent of Trainor's in Camlough. Moral of the story is - don't give Pat Brady a shot. Brady is a Brilliant potter, a master tactician, ice cool temperament and dishes up a finish quicker than it takes to pour a Guinness in the CWC.Conor McQuaid has enough for sleepless as it is but knowing how good Pat Brady can be is another psychological burden he needs to overcome. McQuaid has had a good but not spectacular season with St.Monnina and has a Divisional Cup final to look forward to. He won't be rushing into any big finishes and keeping plenty of options on the table will be how McQuaid will approach this match. He should have the composure to make Brady pay for any possible mistakes.

John Hogan (McGuigan's B) v Mervyn Kernaghan (Orchard Bar)John Hogan was a major player for McGuigan's in their successful hunt for promotion back to the Premier Division. 'Hoggy' is not a player to hold back on his shots. He is a fine potter and certainly has the experience to deal with the big occasion. Will he have the tactical game for his Orchard opponent is the big question? The quick TJ's tables could make John Hogan feel right at home.Mervyn Kernaghan is going into the business end of the season in the worst possible form. A run to the semi-final of the Pairs was terrific for him and David Cromie but looking at his league form gives very little else to be optimistic about. Kernaghan hit a purple patch when he won 7 league games in a row (the best of any Orchard player) . It was the final round of fixtures that saw The Orchard 'Boss' hitting the rocks. He lost, then didn't play, then lost, then didn't play, then lost 2 in a row before finally ending his drought with a win in the final league game of the season. If Kernaghan is on form he is capable of taking out a decent finish but can he resurrect his mid-season form?

At a glanceWe have decided to break down the vital skills a pool player needs to be successful at the top of Newry Pool.We have divided it up into 5 important categories.

1. Potting - Potting included long pots and the use of side when taking on a pot and how successful they are at doing it.

2. Finishing - Finishing includes playing the correct shot, leaving angles, playing cannons and generally clearing the table.

3. Tactics - Not only does this include the use of tactics but also the knowledge of when to use tactics and the likelihood of the player in question of using them when required.

4. Pressure - How cool is the player when it comes down to knocking your opponent from the competition. Lots of players' arms turn to jelly. But how do our competitors fair out?

5. Position - Positional play is something the top top players make look so easy. Although Position and Finishing overlap, the winner of the individuals is most likely going to have the white ball on a string for most of the night.